What is skin chafing?

Skin chafing is an annoying skin condition that can affect anyone at anytime and anywhere on the body. It’s when the skin rubs together or on the fabric of your clothes. Chafing can happen anywhere on the body, but it’s mainly on the thighs, underarms, nipple or groin area. Under favourable circumstances, typically on hot and humid days, although it can also happen during dry and cold weather. Whether you are just casually walking around or doing exercise, if your skin creates enough friction, (add a little bit of sweat or moisture), then you get chafing. A sign of chafing (besides being uncomfortable) are little red bumps and red rashes.

Personally I am not a fan of chafing (actually, I don’t know who actually is?). I usually get it when it’s hot, and when I’m running, my thighs stick together and I get this painful rash. It almost makes me stop exercising on hot days because of this.

How to prevent chafing?

There are two ways to stop chafing. First option is the obvious one, which is by creating a physical barrier by wearing moisture-wicking clothes to stop skin-to-skin and skin-to-fabric chafing. Obvious right? But when it’s hot and humid, wearing loose fitting clothes is preferable. (For me it is, at least when I’m running, usually prefer shorts).

So what the other option then? Anti-chaffing topical products!

Anti-chafing products where you apply to the chafing-prone areas are the biggest lifesavers! These products are usually waterless (anhydrous) and either in a balm or cream format. Being waterless is beneficial as it allows extended glide and creates a barrier on the skin, which doesn’t get absorbed as quickly. Compared to water which just absorbs into the skin. Although choosing the oil (or emollient) that has long playtime is the most important for them to work. From a formulations chemist point of view. It’s what makes these types of products good and effective.

Now let’s look at some popular anti-chaffing products.

Popular anti-chaffing balm / cream

There are some popular anti-chaffing products, some I’ve tried. They are mainly all based around similar ingredients and same format-a stick balm.

Body The Original Anti Chafe, Anti Blister Balm

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ozokerite Wax, Glyceryl Behenate, Stearyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

$24 AUD for 42 g

SNB Stick

Ingredients: coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax & vitamin E oil

$27.95 AUD for 48 g

Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick

Ingredients: caprylic/capric triglyceride, stearyl alcohol, isopropyl palmitate, cetyl esters, ozokerite, tribehenin, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, zinc oxide, fragrance (parfum), zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, tocopheryl acetate, silica, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, punica granatum bark/fruit extract, citral, geraniol, limonene, linalool

$21 AUD for 60 g

GoStik Solid Anti-Chafe

Ingredients: Isopropyl Palmitate, Tribehenin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ceresin Wax, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), lanolin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.

$14.99 USD for 70 g

Tried & tested: Vaseline

Vaseline aka Petroleum Jelly or Petrolatum. I love using Vaseline for when my skin is extremely dry and as a protective ointment for broken skin and lips. So I thought why not give it a go at preventing chafing. I’ve read it a great at anti-chafing for your thighs for runners. Which makes sense because it is an occlusive ingredient that has superb barrier protection, great slip and non-sticky greasy skin feel. Perfect, right? Yes, it did work to a certain extent for me. After 15 mins of running in summer (on multiple days), the Vaseline absorbed into my skin and my thighs started to chafe uncomfortably.

Its a pretty good as an after-chafing product though.

Point proven: Vaseline does absorb into the skin (at least on the top layers of the skin), slowly but surely.

To be Tried & tested: Body Glide

The Original Anti Chafe Balm is the one I am trying now. My review will be posted shortly… stay tuned!

The post Chafing! How to prevent it with anti-chafing balms? appeared first on smartermakeup.

For my dry/oily/combination skin, clay masks are great because they absorb oils from the t-zone area. But I do worry because they can also further dehydrate the dry parts on my face too.

During application: very cooling, refreshing, skin tightening.

After rinsing: brighter complexion, removed oils from pores, tightening/lifting sensation, not drying.

Old vs new formulation (2018 vs 2021)

For those people like me who had forgotten had purchased this face mask back in 2018, this review is for you guys. Its been sitting in my cupboard for 3 years but it still looked good to use. Since then, this face mask had changed formulations, and that is completely normal!

Ingredients breakdown #1

Ingredients breakdown #2

Complete reformulation…

The new formulation has added heaps of new ingredients like emollients, waxes, extracts, preservatives and colourants. Just looking at the ingredients listing, I feel like the newer version feels and performs much better. It also has preservatives which is a crucial to all products especially a clay mask! Parabens will definitely help preservative this clay mask as clay have a tendency to support microbial growth as it is a natural/mineral.

The only ingredients that Mario Badescu’s face mask kept was the very few. And so I will be reviewing the highlight ingredients that are in both products.

Highlight Ingredients

Kaolin – highly absorbent clay, helps soak up oil and impurities from the skin. Could potentially increase the number of collagen fibres making skin more firm and less wrinkles. Of course this will be long term usage of kaolin face masks.

Wheat (Triticum Vulgare) Starch – made from Wheat, this is another absorbent like Kaolin.

Zinc Oxide – known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and absorbent properties. This ingredient itself is not enough to preserve a clay mask. And I haven’t used it consistently to notice the reduction in inflammation or redness. Though my face feels nice using this face mask after a long hot shower.

Strawberry (Fragaria Vesca) Leaf Extract – high in anti-oxidants and rich in Vitamin C. But in a rinse off face mask, you won’t be able to get the benefits of this extract.

Propylene Glycol – A well known and effective humectant. This ingredient helps create a layer on the skin to trap moisture. See Mario Badescu Facial Spray if you love using Propylene Glycol!

Sorbitol – a humectant derived from sugar. See Redwin Sorbolene Moisturiser if you love using Sorbitol as a humectant!

Titanium Dioxide – nothing really special, it just gives the white colour to the product.

The Verdict?

As a face mask, this is great for removing oils and impurities. It also made my face brighter and temporarily more firm. In terms of the ingredients, I’d prefer the newer version with added beneficial ingredients like extracts, oil and most importantly preservatives that works.

If you happen to pick up the latest Mario Badescu Face Mask then it is quite good (ingredients wise).

My ratings on this face mask

Did this product work like it was supposed to?

How good are the ingredients?

How do you find the newer version of Mario Badescu Face Mask? Comment below.

The post Review: Mario Badescu’s Strawberry Clay Face Mask for Combination Skin appeared first on smartermakeup.

Firstly, if you love coconut smell then this one is right for you! And if you don’t, then there’s a few more flavours in the range you may like.

Sensorial and Performance Evaluations

For me, I have extremely dry elbows. And this is the only thing I found that provides them with long term hydration. I apply this before bed since the multi-balm is so sticky and greasy (it looks very unsightly in the day time). The next morning my elbows will be soft and smooth, and I don’t need to reapply throughout the day. Bonus!

My lips are usually very dry in winter so i’ll always need to reapply lip balm. This multi-balm is great but the texture is really thick and sticky! But it works well as a sleep lip mask.

Dry heels. I feel my heels gets drier as I age (I guess there’s not stopping that). But I think I’ve found my saviour. This multi-balm works very well on dry, cracked heels. It provides a film on my heels to reduce water loss while I sleep. Perfect right? (Oh yes, and wear socks to sleep or else it goes everywhere!)

Dry itchy spot on cheek. Strange place to try this multi-balm, but i’m really surprised it worked. It was a really annoying dry pink spot that I could not get rid of with cream. I guess I needed something oily like this multi-balm.

These are the areas I’ve experimented using Lanolips multi-balm. And I will continue to find other ways to use this product. But for now, let’s look at the listing breakdown and check out the ingredients that makes this a multi-balm.

Ingredients breakdown

So what is the function/purpose of each ingredient? Click here to find a little summary about it!

Multi-balm hero ingredient – Lanolin

Did someone say sheep wool? Yes that’s correct!

Lanolin is the fatty greasy sebum that sheep’s secrete on their wool. This sebum protects their skin and wool from the climate and environment.

But don’t worry, no animals are harmed from this. Lanolin is taken from shorn wool. If you are vegan, then this animal derived ingredient is something to look out for.

So what’s so good about Lanolin?

They are good at protecting skin and reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). In other words, it helps keep skin hydrated as it forms a barrier on the skin, sealing the moisture in.

Lanolin is a natural alternative to occlusive ingredients like petrolatum, except greasier and is not vegan friendly. Though it is not very comparable in terms of reducing TEWL compared to petrolatum. Reducing water loss by 96% vs. 20-30% (Petrolatum vs. Lanolin).

Other occlusives that are great for the skin. But petrolaum still is the best one.

Lanolin allergy?

If you are allergic to lanolin then you definitely should not use this multi-balm. The most common names you should look out for in cosmetics is ‘anhydrous lanolin’, ‘lanolin alcohol’ or ‘lanolin’.

And if you are unsure, always patch test.

My Ratings for this multi-balm

Did this product work like it was supposed to?

How good are the ingredients?

Where else have you used this multi-balm? Comment below.

The post Review: Lanolips Ointment Multi-Balm helps protect your skin appeared first on smartermakeup.

I usually have dry skin especially straight after the shower, using this spray was like a miracle. Once it dried it immediate made my face less flaky and I had not even put moisturiser on!

It was very impressive. Using it on top of makeup gave me a refreshed look. My face felt hydrated throughout the day without any flakiness or dry appearance.

Oh, the scent by the way is so fresh (that’s if you like rose). It was the icing on the cake!

Ingredients breakdown

Ingredient Highlights in this Facial Spray

Propylene Glycol (PG)

A well known and effective humectant. This ingredient helps create a layer on the skin to trap moisture.

Aloe Vera

Is a moisturising and hydrating ingredient. So, if you loooove using Aloe, then check out Palmers Night Cream!

Rosehip

With a huge amount of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), depending on which part of the plant is is extracted from (skin, seeds, whole fruit, pappi). Also did you know, Vit C is a powerful antioxidant with anti-ageing and anti-pigmentation properties.

Thyme

Contains phenolic antioxidants (like most herbs). It helps find free radicals that can be damaging to your skin. Thyme extract is also known to have antimicrobial properties.

Gardenia

Contains Feruic Acid which is an antioxidant and anti-ageing phenolic acid.

Algae

An anti-ageing extract. In other words, posses the ability to decrease skin thickness and increase elasticity (the signs of skin ageing!).

Propylene Glycol and its bad rep

The main problem with consumers is the ‘bad’ nature of PG, and some might not even known what it is.

This research paper summaries it very well or if you want a short snippet of it below.

Impurities: PG contains unavoidable trace impurities; diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, as it is a synthetic material. Yes these are toxic materials and is a concern if I/you did not know better. PG is safe if these toxic materials are below 0.1%, according to scientific data.

Usually in EU and US (not so much in AU) these concentrations are heavily monitored. So, you shouldn’t need to worry if you are using legit good branded cosmetic products.

Absorption: Worried about PG absorbing into the skin down to the dermis? Well don’t be! Studies have shown PG does not absorb any further than the epidermis. That is the top layer of your skin.

Skin irritation: Yes slightly if used at undiluted at 100% and if you have sensitive skin! Most deodorants contains a very high amount of PG but does not cause any irritations.

So, at the end of the day, I personally have no problems with PG. It was deemed very safe a very long time ago and is a recognised effective moisturiser. Consumers now days are looking for more ‘natural product’ so very often they will diminish scientifically proven safe ingredients.

The Verdict?

Overall, I have no concerns on Propylene Glycol as it works for me. The lovely extracts in this spritz definitely was a big plus. Also the rose scent was devine.

The only slight downfall is that I wished the spray with more fine and misty. I noticed that large droplets were left on my face and took a bit to dry.

Thoughts on Propylene Glycol?

The post Facial Spray Review: Mario Badescu with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater appeared first on smartermakeup.

I am probably riding the back end of the gimmick ‘bubble mask’, but anyways… I was very intrigued to try this mask since my sister lugged it back from Hong Kong.

At first glance I realised that it was mostly written in Mandarin. I had tried using Google to decipher it but no luck. There were no ingredients listing anywhere and might have been a bad idea to use it. Nevertheless, I still tried this bubble mask.

Initial: Cool sensation and the mask had a bit of fragrance. It was very nice and suitable in this hot weather.

5 minutes: It started to tingle and bubble up, which I had fully expected.

10 minutes: I felt an itchy sensation especially on the side of my face. I had to take it off immediately and washed my face thoroughly.

Aftermath: My face felt squeaky clean and refreshed, however the tingling and itchy sensation did not reside. I had to put on face cream to soothe it!

Why Bubble Mask?

The bubbling effect is the result of releasing oxygen gas which is initially trapped in the mask. The oxygen apparently promotes circulation and collagen production.

However, with limited studies and also taking into account the short contact time, it is very unlikely you will see any magical benefits.

Ingredient Highlights

The three ingredients this mask claims to have: Hyaluronic Acid, Rosemary Extract and Thyme Extract. So, lets delve deeper into the ingredients of this unknown mask.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

An amazing ingredient, if it was a leave on product. With its moisture retention and anti-ageing capability, it is almost like a default ingredient. HA is more effective in creams or products that are left on the face. This allows proper and continuous absorption of the active.

If you are looking for a HA face cream, then check out my review on Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream.

Rosemary Extract:

Contains anti-inflammatory properties, a study has shown it can help suppress inflammation caused by acne. So in short the claim ‘effectively balances oil and soothes dry skin’ is not completely untrue.

When skin creates too much sebum it causes build up which may result in acne. (Though washing your face regularly with pH balanced cleanser can also help manage acne).

Thyme Extract

Contains phenolic antioxidants (like most herbs). It helps find free radicals that can be damaging to your skin. Thyme extract is also known to have antimicrobial properties.

Though if you want the full effect of thyme extract, then try Mario Badescu Facial Spray. Review here.

Verdict

If anyone is looking to buy this, then proceed with caution! I might just be the very few who reacts to this mask. It would have been helpful if there is an ingredients listing somewhere.

The claims however are very appealing, HA, Rosemary and Thyme are wonderful ingredients. Though it does not provide the benefits when rinsed off the skin after a few mins.

Note to self: use products that have ingredients listed somewhere…

Original post: January 2020

Have you tried this Sasatinnie Bubble Mask? What are your thoughts? Comment below.

The post Bubble Mask Review by Sasatinnie with Hyaluronic Acid appeared first on smartermakeup.

So what did I think after using this cream over 7 days (morning & night).

Morning: I used this skin smoothing cream like a primer. It was a bit sticky and didn’t smell very pleasant. It was fragrance free but the base smell is very potent. But after layering on my makeup routine, the smell was not noticeable. The texture was very light and smooth, and didn’t feel dry at the end of the day.

Night: The smell was very strong and more noticeable because I don’t have any other products on my face. It was easy to apply but was a bit sticky and left a slippery/greasy residue on my hands. It did however, leave me face very smooth and hydrated the next morning.

Now lets look at the ingredient listing breakdown and the highlight ingredients.

Ingredients breakdown

So what is the function/purpose of each ingredient? Click here to find a little summary about it!

Emollients that gives you smooth skin

If you were wondering what makes this cream feel so good? Keep reading~

1. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride – second ingredient in the listing provides the spreadability, softness and smoothness.

2. Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate – third on the listing helps provide the emolliency and texture. It also creates a layer on the surface of the skin for protection and moisturisation.

3. Dimethicone – is a silicone not far from the top of the listing helps with the smooth soft feel. But it adheres to the surface of the skin making it feel a bit greasy and heavy.

If you are a fan of silicones then try this night cream.

Active Ingredients

Two actives that gives 48 hour hydration. Both these ingredients are known humectants; absorbs and retains water, and hydrates the Stratum Corneum (SC).

So pretty much hydrated face = less noticeable wrinkles = smoother appearance.

Saccharide Isomerate (aka PENTAVITIN®)

• Clinically proven corn derived ingredient to moisturise and nourish dry flaky skin.
• Derived from carbohydrates, it reproduces the effects of Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF) in the skin. NMF is like a humectant.
• The active binds to amino acids in the NMF and doesn’t easily get washed away.
• The biggest seller for this ingredient is that it can provide ’72 hour’ hydration. Like the popular ‘Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-replenishing Hydrator‘! It also shares the same active for this moisturising claim (but of course with a higher price tag).

Sodium Hyaluronate

• Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is what everyone knows as anti-ageing and a moisturiser. It’s moisture retention capacity is amazing!.
• As the skin ages the HA level also decreases resulting in loss of skin moisture.
• Sodium Hyaluronate is the sodium salt of HA with similar benefits. So, depending on the molecular size, it can penetrate into the deep layers of the skin for anti-ageing effects. On the top layers, it helps to balance water reservoirs.
• In this formula, it looks like Sodium Hyaluronate was also added in a blend. The blend (PatcH20) which is also clinically proven to provide 48 hour hydration.

The Verdict?

There were not any noticeable ‘bad’ ingredients in this skin smoothing cream. Though the only let down was the smell of the product (but each to their own). The combination of actives for the 48 hour hydration claim was definitely a big plus!

Lastly, from my experience the cap of the tube is really smooth and hard to screw back on when my hands are slippery. Otherwise, not bad at all.

Original post: December 2019

What do you think? Should I review Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-replenishing Hydrator as a comparison?

The post Review: Hydrate & smooth your face with Dermalogica’s Skin Smoothing Cream appeared first on smartermakeup.

Baby products generally have a higher pH, so at first I was a bit reluctant as higher pH products means it can dry my skin out.

Firstly on application it was very gentle with minimal to no foaming. It spread quickly and took my makeup off with no problem. My face felt so smooth and moisturised after rinsing.

The only downside is that the product is very thick and hard to squeeze out of the bottle.

Now lets look closely at the claims and breakdown the ingredients list.

Ingredients breakdown

So what does each ingredient mean? Click here to find a little summary about it! .

What makes this baby wash a good face cleanser?

1.The Cleansers

Firstly I must say this baby wash uses very mild and gentle surfactants (cleansers). The three cleansers (Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate and Coco-Glucoside) are naturally derived either from palm or coconut.

These cleansers create a light creamy lather without the tightening effect like when using cleansers with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).

2.The Moisturisers/ Skin Conditioners

Four wonderful moisturising ingredients combined with Glycerin to help attract and retain moisture on the skin.

Glyceryl Oleate: is a lipid enhancer and is made from a reaction between Glycerin and Oleic Acid. This ingredient is oily and deposits onto the skin to moisturise. Not only that, it also allows the penetration of wonderful active ingredients like Sunflower Oil.

Sunflower Oil: high in Linoleic and Oleic Acid which helps hydrates and improve the skin barrier. Combined with Glyceryl Oleate for extra hydration!

Polyquaternium-7: usually found in hair products but also used in skin to provide softness and moisturisation. Quat-7 (and other quats) generally have a bad reputation, because it is contains Acrylamide as an impurity. However, it is deemed safe when it is present as an impurity at very low amounts (<10ppm).

Oat: it contains oat, need I to say more? Everyone knows that oat is soothing and moisturising for the skin, (if you were to bathe in it or apply it as a lotion).

In a rinse off formulation, the contact time is not that long which means it is not enough time for the oat to soothe and moisture your skin. However, with the addition of Glyceryl Oleate (lipid enhancer/penetrator) it helps provide these benefits onto the skin! Very smart aye?

3. The pH

At first I did assume the pH of this cleanser was high purely because its a baby product. But I deduced it could not have been over pH 5.5 because of the preservative (Sodium Benzoate). Only because Sodium Benzoate is effective at below pH 5.5. All in all, the pH level was well suited to my skins natural pH level.

The Verdict?

Honestly, this baby wash/ face cleanser is one of the best! The moisturising actives combined with the cleansers and pH, makes this face cleanser perfect. I would totally continue using this baby wash as a face cleanser, it definitely set the bar high.

Original post: November 2019

Have you used a baby wash as a face cleanser? Comment below on which ones you recommend and I’ll do a review!

The post Review: Aveeno Baby Soothing Wash (as a Face Cleanser) appeared first on smartermakeup.

I used this body cream after showering when my skin is red and bumpy from the hot water. My first impression was that is glides on so smoothly and absorbs quite quickly. It is very strongly fragrance but was okay for a body cream. This body cream makes my skin soft and smooth the next day.

Ingredients breakdown

So what does each ingredient mean? Click here to find a little summary about it!

Highlight ingredient: Jojoba & Vitamin E!

Now we all know that Jojoba and Vitamin E contains heaps of skin benefits. So what are they?

Simmondsia Chinensis Oil aka Jojoba (pronounced as huh·how·buh) is a lipid/wax that is similar to human sebum. It can help rebalance sebum, hydrate and forms a protective layer on the skin.

Tocopheryl Acetate aka Vitamin E is a stable antioxidant that helps protect the skin. It fights free radicals that can lead to skin ageing. If you want a face cream with Vitamin E with additional benefits, check out Palmers Cocoa Butter Night Cream!

Additional ingredient benefits in this body cream?

This formula has quite a few number of occlusive moisturisers that contribute to the smooth skin feel. Also helps create a physical barrier on the skin to prevent water loss.

• Paraffinum Liquidum
• Lanolin Alcohol
• Dimethicone

So you’re probably wondering why there is Alcohol Denat.? You guessed it, it’s for the quick drying and fast absorption. As you already know alcohol (ethanol) tends to dry out the skin. Because of this, many consumers look for alcohol free products. This is different to Lanolin Alcohol and Myristyl Alcohol. These are fatty alcohols that are good for the skin, don’t confuse them.

Fortunately this product does not dry out my skin. And its mainly because of the occulsive moisturisers that help prevent water loss. It balances the drying effect of alcohol which is good for my skin. But if you have sensitive or extremely dry skin then you should avoid products with ethanol.

The Verdict?

This formula is not bad, the highlight ingredients (jojoba & vitamin E) is definitely worth it. It does its job and smells nice too. Though in the long run, I’d prefer to use alcohol free moisturisers since my skin can be really temperamental in winter.

My Ratings

Original post: November 2019

What do you think? Comment below on your view on alcohol. Do you want an ingredient review on alcohol?

The post Review: Nivea Soft Body Cream to rebalance & protect skin appeared first on smartermakeup.

• Lauric acid (49%)
• Myristic acid (18%)
• Palmitic acid (8%)
• Caprylic acid (8%)
• Capric acid (7%)
• Oleic acid (6%)
• Linoleic acid (2%)
• Stearic acid (2%)

Fatty acids are good at making hair and care shine and moisturised.

Coconut Oil in Skin Care?

1. It is comparable to Mineral Oil which many people are avoiding/fearing as it is from petrochemicals. It is very smoothing, softening and nourishing for the skin.

2. A research study comparing coconut vs. mineral oil on mild to moderate dry skin showed it is very moisturising. Coconut oil significantly increased skin hydration and oils on skin surface. How good is that?

3. It helps prevent dryness and flaking of the skin.

4. With anti-ageing properties, it helps delay the appearance of wrinkles and sagging.

5. Comedogenicity? It is usually rated quite high in the comedogenic list. (Though this list is based on 100% of oil on face). If in a blend or product, it is usually fine for acne prone/oily skin. Though some acne prone skin may want to avoid if you’ve tried and tested it. So it just depends on you. Tip: try a patch test before using it.

This night cream by Palmers definitely does not cause oil build ups for my acne prone/oily skin. Check out the review to see if you like it.

What about in Hair Care?

1. Similar to its skin benefits, coconut oil provide shine and healthy hair growth, nourishes, and hydrates hair and scalp.

2. It can help reduce protein loss in hair as this oil can penetrate deep inside the hair.

Almost like a default ingredient, this oily ingredient is pretty much found in most skin and hair products. Even lips! There are a lot of products out in the market that is 100% Coconut oil! It is pretty pricey though, a good alternative is just buy some organic food grade at the grocery store.

Comment below on your favourite product with Cocos nucifera!

The post Ingredient: Hydrating Coconut Oil for your skin & hair appeared first on smartermakeup.

My thoughts?

First thought was that it did not smell pleasant. I could only smell the PVA (Poly Vinyl Alcohol) and it reminded me of primary school arts lesson. The product has fragrance but it did not cover it up.

During application, I noticed the cooling effect which I loved. Immediately I could feel my skin tightened, but about 5 mins there was a slight stinging sensation. It was a bit uncomfortable but eventually dissipated.

20 mins later it was dried and I could easy peel it off. Though I was a little unsatisfied because I expected more dirt and sebum removed. But it did leave my skin soft and smooth.

Ingredients breakdown

So what does each ingredient mean? Click here to find out more about it!

The claims

Ingredient Highlights

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Also used in haircare. I’ve heard some people that have wheat allergies can have reactions if cosmetic products contain wheat. This protein increases skin elasticity, hydration and tightness. So it pretty much does all if/when used at the correct dosage level.

Phytitacin RA-11

A unique natural blend that looks like its exclusive to the Lalisse brand. It claims to have ability to moisturise and repair skins natural elasticity. Though it is hard to assess because it is not recommended to be used that frequently.

Ingredients with bad connotations.

Ethyl Alcohol aka Ethanol

It helps with the quick drying of the PVA film. It can dry out skin, but this formula looks okay with moisturisers to help prevent that from happening. I.e. Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein and natural blend extract.

Triclosan

A preservative (anti-bacaterial) that is being phased out real quick in the AU market. It is completely banned in the US though. From hand washes to toothpastes, this antibac is so popular because its cheap and it works.

So, how safe is Triclosan?

Some animal studies show at high doses it can decrease the thyroid hormone levels. It also has a possibility of making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Studies on its potential to cause skin cancer is still pending.

The US market already banned this ingredient so why not AU? There are plenty of other ingredients that are effective as well. This is an ingredient I am definitely avoiding!

Verdict?

Lalisse Peel Off Mask did clear some sebum out for me but not as much as the pore strips. Maybe because I have extremely oily skin. And I guess some cleansing is better than none.

Clearing out pores is always good to prevent further build up and acne. It also allows the pores to close up so you won’t get the enlarged pore look. So good either way.

Though I wouldn’t use this peel off mask again because it has Triclosan. With the price of the product, they can definitely afford a better preservative system!

My Ratings on this Peel Off Mask

Original post: September 2018

What do you think about Triclosan? Would you use this product? Leave your comments below!

The post Review: Lalisse Peel Off Mask helps clear up your pores appeared first on smartermakeup.